'Blacklisted' journalists, celebrities return to small screen

Under the new CEO Choi Seung-ho, a dismissed former MBC producer, MBC has replaced its primetime “News Desk” presenters to normalize the company. / Courtesy of MBC

By Park Jin-hai

Public broadcasting company MBC’s flagship investigative news program “PD Notebook” has returned after five months, during which labor unionists boycotted the production and airing of the program.

The program that used to reveal “uncomfortable truths” in society had lost its sharpness under the two conservative governments, pressured to cover less controversial issues over the past seven years. Following the dismissal of staff deemed “leftist,” including its director and all writers, MBC’s labor union has been staging a strike calling for leadership change and restoration of the political neutrality of the news media from September until Nov. 11.

A 60-minute special show titled “MBC’s demise, 7 years’ record,” aired Tuesday, didn’t hesitate to confess what has gone wrong in the national TV station under the past two governments. The public broadcasting company told how it had been controlled by the government step by step, firing all employees who voiced critical views of the conservative administrations.

“Under the National Intelligence Service’s scenario, MBC has been seized by the government step by step. Facing a national disaster (Sewol ferry sinking), instead of consoling victims, its priority has been on catering to those in power,” said the show’s presenter Son Jung-eun, revealing documents where its management gave orders not to use critical video footage that could lead to viewers blaming the government.

“It has been quite a long time since I’ve sat down in front of the TV waiting to watch a news show in real time,” said a commentator who watched “PD Notebook.” “The detailed guides of the former administrations to make the media its puppet have been a shock.”

The new show’s viewership posted over 5 percent, doubling from the 2.6 percent it recorded five months ago.

With the new Moon Jae-in administration speeding up measures to root out deep-rooted corruption in officialdom and politics, positive changes in media have been witnessed.

Under the new CEO Choi Seung-ho, a dismissed former MBC producer, MBC has replaced its primetime “News Desk” presenters to normalize the company. News presenters accused by the labor of meddling in personnel affairs, including Bae Hyun-jin of “News Desk,” have been replaced and its news programs began to cover stories of KBS and YTN journalists still staging strikes calling for resignation of management and restoration of political neutrality.

Kim Chang-yong, a journalism and broadcasting professor at Inje University, says Choi’s appointment as MBC’s head has been an unprecedented “drama” in the history of public broadcasting companies, because it is proof the government has not flexed its muscles in its personnel affairs.

“In each government change, labor and management clashed because presidents used to appoint their men to control public broadcasting companies. Thus the protest for political neutrality has been a mainstay for the union,” he said.

“In view of incumbent President Moon Jae-in, Choi, who was fired in 2012 for participating in a walkout lasting several months over editorial independence and has since directed the documentary Criminal Conspiracy depicting the past two governments’ alleged control of the media, could be the last choice he would like to appoint as MBC’s head. Because it is clear Choi would not give in to political influence. This is why I have high hopes and believe Korea’s media environment will change.”

Singer Lee Seung-hwan recently appeared on the tvN show “Life Bar.” Lee had fallen out of favor after he composed a tribute song for the late President Roh Moo-hyun. / Courtesyt of CJ E&M

Celebrities and artists who had been on the government blacklist and pressured to leave their jobs and excluded from public projects, are returning.

Actor Moon Sung-keun has appeared in his first drama in eight years, while comedian and emcee Kim Mi-hwa has been invited to an MBC political talk show after six years.

Journalist Joo Jin-woo and singer Lee Seung-hwan also recently appeared on the tvN show “Life Bar.” Joo had been on the former governments’ watch list as he tracked down former President Lee Myung-bak's alleged black money, while singer Lee had fallen out of favor after he composed a tribute song for the late President Roh Moo-hyun.

“The show itself is proof the world has changed,” said Lee, sharing disadvantages he has received during the show.

Joo who appeared with Lee said he feels “free.” Joo claimed he has been followed and bugged by Korea’s spy agency many times and the whole part he appeared in the SBS talk show “Healing Camp, Aren't You Happy” was cut out after the show’s producer received a phone call from higher-ups.

Wind of change vs. political retaliation

Experts welcome the current changes in the media, but the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) claims Choi’s appointment is political retaliation, driving out people who have close links to former governments.

“The LKP compares Choi’s appointment to former President Lee Myung-bak’s dismissal of then KBS CEO Jung Yeon-ju, who was accused by conservatives for working to accommodate the needs of a leftist government, and following control of the media. But it is clearly different,” said Choi Min-hee, a former lawmaker of the Minjoo Party, a predecessor to the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK). “The big difference comes from the consensus of its members. This time, Choi’s appointment has been the result of the government accepting the request of MBC union members who protested for the great cause of media independence and called for leadership change.”

Political commentator Jang Ye-chan says although MBC can expect to solve many issues of alleged deep-rooted corruption through a leadership change, there is a fine line between the reform to fight corruption and political retaliation.

“If it ends with a personnel change, without following system reforms, people would question the government’s intention to fight corruption,” Jang said.

“If MBC hurriedly changed the leadership, other measures should follow, like the revision of the current Broadcasting Act to reform public broadcasting companies’ governance structure. If the ruling party restructures it, as it claimed when it was the main opposition party, its willingness to reform will not be doubted by the LKP.”